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"You know what, it's Shiro, if anything I'd say the best thing is to just stay out of his way when he gets like that," Yuffie wasn't taking any bullets for the team on that front. "I'm sure he'll be fine."

"If Crystal's not too worried, then I guess we should probably leave it at that," Cloud agreed with a slight nod.

"Well, if you really want me to go wake up Leon..." Yuffie trailed off. "Sure thing boss lady! I'll be sure to let him know you're the one who sent me." And before Tifa had a chance to protest the impish ninja was already halfway up the stairs and headed for Leon's room cackling all the way. Yuffie's cackling was actually loud enough that it managed to wake up Sora.

Sora had been halfway dangling over the side of the bottom bunk in Zidane's room so when Yuffie's laughter finally woke him he immediately toppled onto the floor with a slight thud. "Huh?" Sora glanced around groggily. "What's going on?" Then he started to remember that they had spent the night at 7th Heaven on Radiant Garden and that this was Zidane's room. A moment later he managed to pick himself up off the floor and got himself dressed so he could find out what was going on outside the relative safety of Zidane's room.


Down in the tavern area Crystal, Roxas, and Xion were all seated at a table together simply chatting over breakfast. They had already made their plan to assist the Radiant Garden Restoration Committee if the need arose so Tifa's attempt to distract them using Kailah's musical talents was hugely mistimed. This isn't to say that they didn't appreciate the musical diversion. They were quite well entertained by it in fact. But, truth be told, Shiro's absence was a more effective diversion at the moment than the morning entertainment.

"Wow Kailah, you're amazing!" Xion was certainly very impressed by the music.

"Yeah," Roxas agreed. He was watching Crystal though. He could tell she must be worried about Shiro not being there given his departure had been mentioned by Tifa, Yuffie, and Cloud while their little group had been sitting down for breakfast.

"Did Shiro say anything about where he was going?" Crystal wanted an answer to that much at least even if Tifa was making a pointed effort to keep them out of the loop about this Shinra business that was going on here on Radiant Garden.

"While he was on the phone he did mention something about Olympus possibly needing a new God of Death once he gets there," Cloud answered which thankfully put Crystal's mind at ease pretty much on the spot.

"Oh, well, if it's only Hades, then it's no problem," Crystal would let it drop and return to her breakfast.

Sora was still attempting to fasten a few buckles as he stumbled down the stairs to see what was happening. He noticed Roxas with Crystal and Xion at one of the tables away from the bar, thinking nothing of it, and noticed a spot already laid out for him so he headed over to take it.

"This looks awesome!" Sora was already shoveling away at his food without a second thought. This behavior wasn't exactly new for everyone. Sora did the same thing when they were all eating together at the mansion in Twilight Town.

Roxas had relaxed once Crystal seemed satisfied with the answer she got from Cloud about Shiro. At least that was one less thing to worry about.

Leon would appear at the top of the stairs leading down to the tavern area looking even more disgruntled than usual. This was in no small part because Yuffie had woken him up by jumping on his bed. In fact, she was still in his room jumping on it when he'd left her there with a grumble. He descended the stairs and headed straight for the bar. "Coffee," was all they were getting out of him until he had properly woken up.

Yuffie would follow several minutes later to take up another seat at the bar, sticking close to Zidane and away from Leon who seemed to be particularly agitated at the moment. Once Leon finally had coffee and food in front of him and had managed to take a few quick gulps to get his brain working he would look to Tifa appearing slightly less ornery.

"Okay, so what is it that you wanted to talk about?" Leon would ask before he started wolfing down his food like he was starving. This was definitely going to take some getting used to.

"And it looks like he's back," Roxas looked up when Shiro returned along with Gilgamesh and overhearing as Apocalypse was bragging about what Shiro had supposedly done to Hades and all.

"Huh, why did he bring that golden haired guy that was hanging around you both at the Coliseum?" Sora had apparently already forgotten Gilgamesh's name or was merely finding it too difficult to remember at the moment.

"It could mean that Gilgamesh intends to travel with us now or with Shiro at the very least," Xion suggested.

"Anyway, Axel, I think I've come up with a plan for Sora's training to ensure that we'll be on roughly the same sleep schedule, but well, the world we'd be going to and the particular location on that world, well let's just say that Anna Kyoyama is one very harsh task master so if you aren't interested in getting in more training you might like to sit this one out," Crystal would explain as she continued to think it over. "Anyone who comes with us is liable to be put to work at her inn, Funbari Onsen, so there won't really be too much down time while we're working on our training there."

"Why does it sound like this isn't going to be fun?" Sora was already starting to complain about it.

"Because it won't be," Crystal assured him. "But at least there's the hot springs to soak in once we get done with all our chores."

Roxas glanced to Xion. "It sounds like this next world could be a bit rough. You sure you don't want to just wait for us in Twilight Town?"

"If I'm going to help you all to fight, then I need to get stronger too," Xion reminded him. "Besides, training and chores doesn't sound that bad."

"And if you have a good attitude about it, it won't be," Crystal nodded. She then looked back to Axel. "Anyway, while we're doing that now might be a good time for you to go find Wolfwood, wherever he's gotten to. You were planning to do that anyway, weren't you?"

Kailah bowed and smiled, but looked at Tifa apologetically when there was really no distracting them. She was learning from all of the conversations that these kids weren't exactly the kind to BE distracted easily. She put her instrument away and put a large glass of water in front of Leon next to his coffee.

"Drink that." After making sure everyone was eating and/or setting everything in its proper place, she sat next to Leon at the bar.

Tifa sighed, "Alright. I don't want any of YOU guys," she gestured to Crystal and her group, "worrying about Radiant Garden for now. Get the training done that needs to be done. We'll call you if it becomes an issue we can't handle on our own. And for that matter," she turned to Leon, "We might have a potential issue on our hands." She looked at Cloud to explain about the Shinra corporation using Maleficent's tower.

Kailah generally made sure Leon seemed okay before watching as Shiro arrived back with... another guest she would assume. She shook her head. She's definitely not one to be judging others. Besides, Radiant Garden was her home now. She was concerned about the situation at hand too.

"You're not going to keep pestering me like this all day, are you?" Leon spoke to Kailah while peering disdainfully at the glass of water before taking a sip. Then he turned back to Cloud and Tifa. He was largely ignoring Yuffie. "Okay, so what's the issue?"

"Maleficent's tower in the ravine seems to have been taken over by some group calling themselves Shinra," Cloud explained rather vaguely. "Beyond that, we don't actually know who is responsible or why they decided now all of the sudden was a good time to stage their takeover."

"It's actually pretty smart if you think about it though," Zidane pointed out. "I mean it might not look like much, but the location is incredibly secure. It's in the middle of the ravine so there's not a whole lot of cover which means it would be difficult for anyone to sneak up on whoever is doing this. It's also far enough from the town that we can't really see what goes on way out there either. Basically, even me and Yuffie would have a tough time sneaking into the place unless it's after dark and that's more than a little bit risky if we don't know whose out there."

"Shinra?" Leon frowned. "You don't think it could be that brat, Rufus, and his business interests trying to interfere with Scrooge again?"

"Oh man, I totally forgot about him!" Yuffie exclaimed in surprise. "You don't think he's really back here in Radiant Garden do you?"

"Well, that sign on the tower does have his family name plastered on it," Cloud also frowned.

"Well, if it is Rufus, then I doubt he's alone in this new enterprise," Leon pointed out. "He must have his own people working for him. People who aren't exactly interested in rebuilding for the sake of everyone. These guys might want to seize control of the whole town if we let them."

"Yeah, that's not gonna happen," Yuffie shook her fist in the direction of the ravine. "This is our town!"

Axel wasn't the only one who started laughing when Shiro slammed his face against his plate and came up looking like a food golem in response to Gilgamesh's nickname for him. Crystal, Roxas, Xion, and Sora were all laughing too.

"I think we might need some more napkins over here," Crystal called over to the bar area as she slowly recovered from her fit of laughter in response to the transformation that had taken place with Shiro's face. She was trying very hard not to pay too much attention to what the others were discussing, although she was still concerned about what this latest development could mean for everyone here on Radiant Garden. Crystal knew that Leon, being head of security, would do his best not to let anything too bad happen as long as he could help it.

"It won't be the same without you around, Axel," Roxas mentioned as he also managed to reign in his own laughter at Shiro. "But I promise you won't have to worry about me and Xion."

"Right," Xion quickly agreed. "We'll take care of each other so you just worry about looking after yourself."

Axel nodded, having finishing both his laughing and his food while Shiro had worked to clean up his face with offered towels, looking amused a bit before listening to Roxas and xion wishing him well on things, nodding a bit as he stood up after finishing his food "i'll be fine you two, i wasn't given the title of Organization's Assassin for being a reckless idiot, as much as Isa would love to disagree with me." he said in an off-handed comment, while chuckling "but it shouldn't take me too long, so i might join you on the next world you guys decide to hop to, since i have Shiro's number i could call him to open me a Corridor of Light or something." he said, while starting to head out the door himself much like Shiro had before, only instead of a Corridor of light opening, a Corridor of Darkness opened, and off he went with a wave to everyone as he did so.

Shiro of course just frowned a bit, now realizing what the adults were talking about when Leon mentioned the name Rufus, of course, it meant that his 'WEAPON' side of his mind was reminding him through the life stream who this Rufus was, and if that was the case... no, he'd mentally slap himself and just used an offered napkin from whoever offered him one to clean up his face of food, and give a dirty look to the amused Gilgamesh "low blow there goldilocks, i told you not to call me by a tittle i don't feel is appropriate, i am -not- a king." Gilgamesh would scoff in return while smirking at Shiro "would you rather be a prince then, the Prince of Heroes?" he added cheekily, causing Shiro to sputter in indignation and Apocalypse to giggle in the background at the being thrown for a loop kind of thing. "for the last blasted time King of Heroes. I. Am. Not. Worthy. of. Being. Any. Kind. of. ROYALTY." Gilgamesh just sipped on a cup of coffee, looking way too amused at Shiro's indignation "ah, but being my protege, in essence, is qualifying you to become the King of Heroes, should i step down from holding that title." he said, while Shiro twitched an eyebrow "Never. you hear me Gil? NEVER." he hissed out in a whisper, clearly agitated now at the fact that -someone- was trying to make him more than just another person, or a sword as he is.

Roveth of course just narrowed his eyes as he sighed, taking a moment to reign in his own aura of darkness and re-confine it within his own body enough to where not a drop of darkness could be felt, even to the point where his eyes reverted from their inversion blood red stance back to their normal golden amber self, which were more gem like in quality than anything "Riku... how many times have i told you, time and again, that i'm not a being of darkness, i am a being of -Shadow-. there's a stark difference between the two." he said, turning to shake his finger in a 'tsk tsk' fashion at Riku, before returning his gaze towards the heartless General as he narrowed his eyes "anyway.. this might be even harder than a normal Heartless General, as i sense aside from our lovely Keyblade Master here and one other soul that's on the beach.. that this general has something that shouldn't be here. something divine in nature." he said as he dismissed Tenebrex and Lockdown, actually going without his keyblades and instead flicking out a card which spun and enlarged "Activate Equipment: Enchanted Sword Nothung!" he called out, before reaching into the card from behind, and yanking out from the card a beautifully crafted blade that had multiple dragon motifs on it, as it pulsed with an almost radiant 'slaying' light of sorts "this should do nicely..." he said while the man frowned in seeing the sword, before summoning back the sword he had thrown, and charged down with an army of Neo Shadows, a few dark-sides, and flying wyverns following in right behind as Roveth cringed "hate to say this you three, but leave the big guy to me, i've had experience fighting the Heartless Generals." he said, sure, it was through Shiro he had said experience but it was there nonetheless, plus he had his own damn tricks up his sleeve, as he palmed another card just in case he needed it.

"Okay, in that case I'll take care of the small fries," Aqua offered while looking to Riku and Mickey. "That should give you both some room to bring down those big ones."

"Sounds like a plan," Mickey nodded before charging off to take on one of the Darksides at close range.

"Be careful," Riku added before teleporting off to do the same.

Once they had both made their move Aqua started casting huge flourishes of Firaga, Blizzaga, and Thundaga magic that would stun and annihilate large numbers of the Neo Shadows all at once. Sometimes the spells would even escalate to the next tier of Firaja, Blizzaja, and Thundaja which Roveth would know was actually beyond the range of black magic that Crystal would have been capable of even while dual casting. And most assured the Heartless weren't liking the damage they were now sustaining in the slightest.

Even while he was concentrating on trying to bring down the Darksides as quickly as possible it wasn't hard for Riku to grasp why Aqua had been named a Keyblade Master. She really seemed to know what she was doing.

of course, as Shiro was adjusting his belt with Einlanzer strapped to it, and the Ma-Ken resting along his back, he'd sweatdrop at Tifa's reminder of coming back in one piece as Gilgamesh chuckled a bit and shook his head "i don't think we have to worry too much on Shiro here, besides, if nothing else, i'll make sure he doesn't get himself into -too- much trouble." he said honestly, while Shiro shot Gilgamesh a dirty look "remind me again -who- is the one who helped an insane priest to nearly destroy my mentor's world?" he said with a bit of Acid in his voice, causing Gil to sweatdrop a bit "oh come on, are you and the faker still going to hold that over my head?" Shiro of course deadpanned with a twitch of his eyebrow though showing his apparent ire "that depends, -should- i hold you accountable for the man that dumped the mud of a zoroastrian god of darkness right on both my mentor's face and on my head when we were trying to stop him from destroying the world with 'All the World's Evils' of Angra Mainyu?" Gilgamesh flinched, and looked away scratching his cheek a bit lightly "... i wasn't exactly myself back then alright?" he said with a whine as he was heading out with the others, Shiro being the last one out, as he turned his head to the side "i'm gonna hold you to that calling us if you need help Tifa." he said calmly enough, before stepping out the door to join the others in heading off towards whatever method of travel they were going this time for their next destination.

Roveth meanwhile had been given wide berth by the heartless aside from a few bold ones which would be cut down by a quick summoning of one of his keyblades or tossed into the maws of one of his dragons to chomp on while whistling at the damage Aqua was dishing out ~damn... and to think Shiro has the possibility of matching that capability now with his new abilities...~ he thought to himself, only to turn and see an incoming darkness charged flying fist right for his face, which he proceeded to do a split to duck under said punch, before popping back up with an uppercut of his own, causing the burly man to step back a bit, smirking "Hmph.. so this is the vaunted Dark half of our nemesis, Shiro... looks like a wimp to me." he mocked, while Roveth looked at the man before raising an eyebrow "you're one to talk big brute and ugly. so got a name?" the man just started chuckling a bit lightly "Ganondorf, King of Thieves of the Gerudo Desert in Hyrule." Roveth just rolled his eyes, and took a sword slash which the man parried easily enough "with how big you are, and the fact i can tell you have the ego roughly the size of a continent or two, being a king just doesn't suit you, especially a king of Thieves, ones who walk in the--" he said, disappearing, only to pop right out of his shadow from behind using a slash of Nothung to do some minor damage to his back "Shadows, and strike in the cover of the night." he finished his sentence, before the two started clashing, fist to fist, sword to sword.. it was a brawl fest at the moment.

The clash with the Heartless General who called himself Ganondorf continued in the Realm of Darkness. Riku, along with Aqua and Mickey, was managing to keep the Darksides and the Neo Shadows mainly under control so that Roveth could focus on the big boss himself. Even so, it was still an uphill battle and losing stamina was becoming a very real concern. Thankfully, they didn't have to worry so much about recovery now that they had caught up with Aqua and Mickey wasn't the only one with access to Curaga magic to heal the group when they were in a real pinch. Aqua's magic was also way more potent which meant the recovery benefits were even greater too.

"It's funny, we came here to try to save you, but you're the one who rescued us," Riku couldn't help but laugh. Although that was probably a good thing because it meant he was at least keeping his spirits up even though the situation was looking fairly hopeless at the moment. As long as Ganondorf remained the Heartless would only keep coming.

"It's the thought that counts," Aqua assured him while continuing to blast away the Neo Shadows with her powerful elemental magic.

"Anyway, we're not finished yet," Mickey would add as he struck down another Darkside.